Mahindra is working on all-new Thar and Bolero for the Indian market, launch is likely to happen in 2020
The Indian automotive scenario will soon go through major changes as the new safety regulations would be put in place by 2020. Manufacturers are working round-the-clock to develop new, safer vehicles that would replace the current models in the market.
Mahindra, the biggest seller of Utility Vehicles in India is working on the all-new Mahindra Thar and the all-new Mahindra Bolero. The current version of both the Thar and the Bolero would not comply with the upcoming safety norms, which means they cannot be sold in their current form after the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) comes into place.
Keeping the legacy alive, Mahindra is working on both all-new Thar and the Bolero and recently, the all-new Mahindra Thar was caught testing on the Indian roads. The all-new Thar and the Bolero would share nothing with the current generation models except for the name. They would look different and would be different mechanically too.
To meet the new safety standards, the all-new Mahindra Thar and the Bolero would get an all-new platform. As both the Utility Vehicles are meant for rough use, both would get the ladder-frame chassis, which are much more sturdier. It is being reported that both Mahindra Thar and the Mahindra Bolero would get the same chassis underneath the body.
It should be noted that even the current Mahindra Bolero and the Mahindra Thar share the same platform underneath. This makes them quite similar to each other as both of them also uses the same set of engines. Going forward, we can expect both the vehicles to get the same set of engines when the all-new versions come out.
The Mahindra Bolero is massively popular in the rural markets of India. They are uses as people-movers all over the country and seldom break down. The new-age Mahindra Thar and the Bolero are expected to get same kind of ruggedness. Also, both the vehicles would get some standard safety features like the driver-side airbag, ABS + EBD and other features like speed warning, rear parking sensors and more.
*Pics just for reference